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Human Earth Animal Liberation
126 SW 148th St Ste C100-422 Seattle, WA 98166-1984
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HEAL HEAL’S MISSION STATEMENT HEAL is an egalitarian network of activists self-empowered to plan events, create change, and make the world a better place for all life. Our goals include the liberation of humans, nonhuman animals, and the earth! We work in cooperation with like-minded organizations that put compassion in action! |
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Teen Liberty Environment |
Human Rights Animal Welfare |
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With Chapters In: Colorado♥Illinois♥Iowa♥Kentucky♥New York Washington♥Wisconsin |
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| Prison Reform | Human Liberation | Earth Liberation | Animal Liberation | ||||||||
FRAUDULENT AND ABUSIVE “TREATMENT” CENTERS
FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS!
(Watch the Congressional Hearing)
***VISIT THE NEW SURVIVOR MESSAGE FORUM!***
The residential
treatment and wilderness "therapy" programs have been denounced by
the National Institute of Health as being harmful to children and
families as well as ineffective in dealing with teen problems. There
are multiple resources that expose the fraud and abuse of this
industry. Some authors to check out are Dr. Peter Breggin, Alexia
Parks, and Maia Szalavitz. Dr. Peter Breggin is author of mutiple
books regarding appropriate treatment for teens (see
Reclaiming Our Children by Dr. Peter Breggin). Alexia Parks
authored "An
American Gulag" exposing the "teen help" industry and Maia
Szalavitz has written two great books exposing the fraud and abuse
inherent in this industry, "Tough Love America" and "Help
at Any Cost".
We suggest parents do
not remove their children from their home environment unless they
pose an immediate threat to themselves or others. Leading expert in
adolescent psychology and head of the Department of Psychology at
the University of California--Berkeley, Dr. Margaret Singer, has
spoken out against these programs in great detail saying that they
make a child's worst nightmare of abandonment come true and that the
people who run these programs are slick businessmen with no training
or expertise in helping teens appropriately. Maia Szalavitz, author
of "Tough Love America", cites the National Institute of Health
studies on these programs that have determined that they are harmful
and not helpful to teens or their families. Szalavitz also stated on
the Jan. 18th, 2005 episode of Montel Williams that even when
children/teens pose an immediate threat to themselves or others that
at most a short stay (1-4 weeks) in a local psychiatric hospital to
deescalate the situation is what is needed followed by intensive
out-patient family counseling.
The "schools" listed on
our site are either suspectedly or confirmedly abusive. We recommend
no one send children to a facility that matches any of the criteria
on our warning signs list at
www.heal-online.org/warn.htm
(see also www.isaccorp.org
) . We have successfully exposed the abuses at Bethel Boys
Academy, Bethel Girls Academy (now closed), CEDU Family of Programs
(all programs now closed), Mountain Park Boarding Academy (now
closed), and many others. We had proof of abuse at CEDU programs up
over 6 years ago and they were just closed down on Friday, 3/25/05.
The system sometimes takes too long to catch up with justice and
truth. That's why we exist. We exist to warn and protect families
from abusive behavior modification programs.
If you are a survivor of
one of these programs or otherwise interested in exposing fraudulent
and abusive “treatment” centers or wilderness camps, please
contact us.
For more information on this issue visit:
http://www.heal-online.org/teen.htm.
On the HEAL website you will find links to lawsuits, news articles,
and survivor websites detailing the abuses experienced at these
facilities.
Also, please take a moment to read the open letter quoting
government and private entities with their true intentions in these
matters by visiting
www.beyondbusiness.net/openletter.htm.
It is imperative that you DO NOT send your child to an out of
state behavior modification program.
It is imperative that you DO NOT send your child to any program
that limits or denies contact between you and your child at any
point in their stay at the facility.
It is imperative that you DO NOT send your child to a facility that
you yourself will not be monitoring on at least a weekly basis in
person to monitor the treatment and well being of your child.
Be responsible, for the sake of your children. If you or your family
were defrauded, abused, and/or subjected to human and civil rights
violations, please get legal assistance now.
The statute of limitations varies from state to state. You
have a limited time to file a claim.
For a list of attorneys and attorney referral services that can
help you in your pursuit of justice,
click here. If you are a parent who was coerced into putting your child on psychotropic drugs by school professionals, please
visit:
http://www.ablechild.org/data/thelist.asp.
This is a growing list of parents bullied into putting their
children in harm’s way. To make a donation to
HEAL specifically for our Teen Liberty/Stop Child Abuse Campaign,
please
click here.
We need your full support to insure needed exposure for this
campaign! Get involved,
donate
or volunteer
today!
Also, we believe ALL programs outside of the US are suspect and ask that you read the U.S. State Department’s warning regarding international programs by clicking here. They have softened the warning from the original. We believe this is due to the corruption in the State Department, Justice Department, and the White House. Do not, under any circumstances, risk your child’s life in a program outside of the U.S.
HEAL is not a referral service. We do not advocate placement of children in unregulated, private, behavior modification programs or facilities. Please do not contact us for referrals or approval of your subjecting a child to this corrupt and destructive industry.
If you are unable to find the answers you are looking for, please
visit:
www.heal-online.org/help.htm
Following is a “work in progress” list of suspected and confirmed
abusive behavior modification programs in the
United States.
If you have survived an abusive behavior modification program,
please
contact us and tell us your
experience.
We will post your experience and details about the facility on
this website. We can
protect your identity
if you so desire. Understand that this is an incomplete list and that it is your
responsibility to look heavily into the
program(s) which you consider placing your child
into. Please use the
following drop down menu to select
programs by state or name or simply scroll
down the page:
ALABAMA
Alabama Teen Challenge in Oxford (& cities of Bay Minette, Warrior, ), AL is highly suspected of being a teen torture facility. Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF). DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for teens. Straight, Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. In George W. Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US ambassador to Italy. George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000. The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior modification. Please do not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to others. To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors, click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers, please click here. For staff information and background, click here.
New Beginnings in AL is a Three Springs program. Based on multiple survivor accounts of other Three Springs programs and former employee (employed at Three Springs of Paint Rock Valley facility) allegations, we find Duck River Boys to be highly suspect. Due to possible litigation in this issue and in order to protect our sources, we are not divulging more information at this time. If you have more information on Three Springs programs and/or were abused while in their care, please contact us. If you were at their follow up transitional facility and experienced abuse or further violations of your rights, please contact us. To read survivor reports visit: www.heal-online.org/threespgs.htm To review the staff list, click here.
New Directions Boys in Huntsville, AL is a Three Springs
program. Based on multiple survivor
accounts of other Three Springs programs and former employee
(employed at Three Springs of Paint Rock Valley facility)
allegations, we find Duck River Boys to be highly suspect.
Due to possible litigation in this issue and in order to
protect our sources, we are not divulging more information at this
time. If you have more
information on Three Springs programs and/or were abused while in
their care, please
contact us.
If you were at their follow up transitional facility and experienced
abuse or further violations of your rights, please contact us.
To read survivor reports visit:
www.heal-online.org/threespgs.htm
Reclamation Ranch in Empire, AL is connected to Rachael Academy. These programs are descendants of the Roloff homes and are confirmedly abusive. Reclamation Ranch has been raided and is swimming in allegations of abuse and torture. There is a photo on their website of the Director proudly posing with the plane that Roloff died in. If you were in Reclamation Ranch or would like to contact us please click here. For information on Reclamation Ranch staff and cult history, click here. Here are videos on the raid!:
Teen Challenge, Int’l
in Seale, AL is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs,
click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Three Springs of
Courtland, Three Springs Turning Point, and
Three Springs of Paint Rock Valley are lock down facilities with
around the clock observation of children in their care.
Based on the description as of February 13, 2004 at the
teenprogram.info site, linked to the program title at the beginning
of this description and former employee (employed at Three Springs
of Paint Rock Valley facility) allegations, we believe that Three
Springs of Courtland and Three Springs of Paint Rock valley is
confirmedly abusive.
Due to possible litigation in this issue and in order to protect our
sources, we are not divulging more information at this time.
If you have more information on Three Springs programs and/or
were abused while in their care, please
contact us.
If you were at their follow up transitional facility at Three
Springs Turning Point and experienced abuse or further violations of
your rights, please contact us. To read survivor reports
visit:
www.heal-online.org/threespgs.htm
Palmera Teen Challenge in Double Springs, Alabama is highly suspected of being a teen
torture facility. Teen
Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the Drug Free
America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens.
Straight, Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald
Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
In George W. Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler
as US ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here.
To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
ALASKA
Teen Challenge of Alaska
in Anchorage, AK is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
ARIZONA
Anasazi Foundation located in Mesa, AZ was founded by Larry Dean Olsen, a long-time associate of Steve Cartisano, is likely abusive. Please read: http://www.nospank.net/bacon2.htm (On any page, you can click on "edit", "find (on this page)", and enter in a word such as "Anasazi" to find it on the page.) Please contact us if you were abused or had your rights violated by Anasazi. We highly suspect Anasazi Foundation of being an abusive program. For staff and background info, click here.
Arivaca Boys Ranch--Located in Arivaca, AZ (on Mexican Border). It looks to be a basic slave/labor camp. These ranchers get free labor that they can exploit and abuse while charging families big money. The website plays into the scapegoating of children by taking all responsibility off the parents or family dynamic and blaming the child. This is a sign of an abusive environment. Children, teenagers, and the adults in their lives all contribute to the overall social environment that can create imbalance, lack of good communication, and a complete breakdown of the family dynamic. It is up to everyone to work together to resolve family issues. Any program that sets parents and children against each other and takes the "side" of the parent without having properly assessed the needs of the family, including the child in question, is likely fraudulent and abusive. We would recommend against placing any child at such a facility as Arivaca Boys Ranch. Please contact us if you need to expose abuse or violations at this facility. For staff and background info, click here.
Blue Hills Academy
located in Dewey, AZ uses the same language as Resource Realizations
and the TASKS model of behavior modification.
Their system is virtually identical to the confirmed abusive
programs such as WWASPS, Provo Canyon School, and Mountain Park
Boarding Academy. Use
the link to Blue Hills Academy (click on the opening title of this
paragraph) and you will be taken to their “what we do that works”
page. It details a
mandatory cut off of communication between parents and children
during the initial phases of “healing”.
They use language such as “what works, and what doesn’t work”
which is identical to the trauma-based mind control seminars of
Resource Realizations.
It is our belief that because of the numerous methods used having
matched the warning signs as can be found at
http://www.heal-online.org/warn.htm
as taken from www.isaccorp.com
that Blue Hills Academy is an abusive behavior modification facility
and we advise you DO NOT send your child there and that you DO
rescue your child at once if they are there now!
If you were abused at Blue Hills Academy please report your
abuse to authorities and
contact us to have your online statement added here as a warning
to others.
Canyon State Academy (a.k.a. Rite of Passage, Arizona Boys Ranch) located in Queen Creek, AZ. This program is confirmedly abusive. A child was killed by staff at this facility. See articles here and here. Please do not subject your child to this program. If you were abused or had your rights violated at Canyon State Academy (or Arizona Boys Ranch), please contact us and we will post your statement here as a warning to others. For staff and background info, click here.
Copper Canyon Academy located in Lake Montezuma, AZ is suspected of being an abusive behavior modification program. They use a level-based system similar to Provo Canyon School and the WWASPS programs. They limit contact between parent and child to censored/shared w/ staff written correspondence while on the initial orientation level. This contact is increased to one monthly phone call with staff supervision watching and monitoring all the child says while on the phone. These conditions make it virtually impossible for a child to report any abuse without suffering greater risk of unnecessary and cruel punishment. Please do not send your child to any program that limits your contact with them. If you were abused at Copper Canyon Academy or had your rights violated in anyway (it is against federal law for them to read your incoming or outgoing written correspondence and lawsuits have shown time and again that these institutions are guilty of breaking federal laws by doing this) please contact us and we will post your online statement here as a warning to others. To read an online statement regarding abuse and violations at this facility (under previous owners) as reported by a former employee of Copper Canyon, please click here. To review the staff list and history of Copper Canyon staff, click here.
The Fenster School--Located in Tucson, AZ. We have received a preliminary report of abuse at The Fenster School. Based on the preliminary report, we find Fenster suspected of being an abusive facility. Please contact us with any information on The Fenster School. For staff and background info, click here.
Gatehouse Academy--Located in Wickenburg, AZ (and Sarasota Springs, NY). This program is highly suspected of being an abusive facility. It's application states that it is not a "treatment center" or a "medical center". In addition, all communications are monitored by staff and visits are also monitored and scheduled. Any program that denies contact between parent and child at any time during their stay is likely abusive. Also, parents are not allowed to spontaneously visit or interact with their children privately. This is also a red flag. Please review the warning signs list at www.heal-online.org/warn.htm for more information regarding what practices imply an overly restrictive and/or abusive atmosphere. Also, Gatehouse allows "distance learning" and is partnered with Brigham Young University (BYU) for this purpose. BYU is the birthplace of abusive "treatment" models and this association suggests that Gatehouse is using an abusive treatment model. In addition, Gatehouse Academy touts its affiliation with NATSAP (an accreditation agency created by abusive behavior modification program owners to give the appearance of legitimacy to themselves and others in this industry) and the Woodbury Reports as proof of effectiveness. Please see our website at www.heal-online.org/accreditation.htm for information on how/why these accreditation agencies are untrustworthy. Woodbury Reports rewards bad behavior and aids in covering up abuse at many facilities. Also, Gatehouse is hiring and to work with the patients, all is required is a "high school diploma" or "equivalent". They are not providing qualified and trained addiction specialists or mental health professionals to their clients and allowing uneducated and inexperienced people to be in unsupervised positions of power over residents in their care. This is a serious issue. We recommend you do not subject yourself or your young adults (17-25 years old) to this facility. If you have been defrauded, abused, or had your rights violated by Gatehouse Academy, please contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to others. To learn more about the staff and cult associations of Gatehouse Academy, click here.
Oak Creek Ranch School located in Sedona,
AZ is confirmedly abusive. According to one mother, "My son
went to Oak Creek Ranch School in Sedona, Arizona. We were assured
that it would be a good place for a 12 year old and he would be
among several others of his age, supervised and extra help with some
of his learning and behavioral issues. The whole stay was a
nightmare. There was only one other 12 year old, all the other kids
were high school students, smoking, doing drugs and more. No
supervision every night for 4 hours, kids left to roam around.
Whenever I called the only supervisor would complain constantly that
they were short staffed. My son was expelled for taunting another
kid with bruises on his body. California Child Protective Services
got involved, but nothing ever happened. I contacted the Sherriff's
Dept. in Sedona, and was told that "they are good people at that
school" and they weren't going to investigate. Of course, I was not
refunded any tuition and my son learned everything he shouldn't
have, cussing, smoking, drugs, sexual encounters with older girls.
To this day, 5 years later he still will not tell us about some of
the stuff that went on there, he is scarred, our whole family has
been traumatized by this experience. Schools like Oak Creek Ranch
School need to be put out of business!" Please do not send
your child to Oak Creek Ranch School. If you were abused or
had your rights violated by Oak Creek Ranch School, please
contact us so we can post your experience here as a warning to
others. Thank you!
Parc Place located in N. Chandler, AZ is confirmedly abusive. According to multiple former employees: "A lockdown rehabilitation facility for troubled teens in north Chandler is under fire from former employees who claim the place is plagued by violence, poor management and lax care." See the whole news report titled, "Ex-employees question safety for troubled teens at rehab facility" at http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=6240832&nav=HMO6. If you were abused or had your rights violated at Parc Place, please contact us and we will post your experience here as a warning to others. For staff list and additional information, click here.
Spring Ridge Academy
located in Spring Valley, AZ is confirmedly abusive and uses
virtually the same language and systems of seminars as Resource
Realizations and the TASKS model of behavior modification.
According to their application form they require parents to turn
over all guardianship rights over to the school while the child is
in the school. They require a commitment of at least 15 months.
They ask parents to sign away the right to sue for any reason
other than gross negligence, which they cannot legally require
parents to do in the event they break the law, prove to be
fraudulent and abusive, as we believe they are.
They also block communication to the outside world allowing
only letters to and from parents all coming and going through staff
so that no child can report their abuse to their parents without
being punished. They
block phone privileges during the first month(s) of stay.
All of these are red flags according to the warning list at
http://www.heal-online.org/warn.htm.
Please do not send your child
to this program. Rescue
them if they are there now!
View some of the fines levied against the program,
click here.
If you were abused at Spring Ridge Academy please
contact us and we will post your online statement here as a
warning to others.
Teen
Challenge of Arizona
in Phoenix, (and
cities of Tucson, Yuma) AZ is highly suspected of being a teen
torture facility. Teen
Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the Drug Free
America Foundation (DFAF). DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000. The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
ARKANSAS
Capstone Treatment Center--Located in Judsonia/Searcy, AR. HEAL finds Capstone suspect because they use the typical and abusive behavior modification/thought reform phase system to forcibly change a child's beliefs and personality. At least one Capstone employee has moved on to a confirmedly abusive and lethal wilderness program. If you have been abused or had your rights violated at Capstone, please contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to others.
Teen Challenge of Arkansas
in Hot Springs
Village, AR is highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000. The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen Challenge Ranch
in Morrow, AR is highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF). DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000. The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
CALIFORNIA
Feather River Teen Challenge
in Live Oak, CA is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Homeward Bound in "Bay Area", CA is suspected of being an abusive behavior modification program and referral center. They are home-based in Utah and associated with other Utah programs that are abusive and/or unregulated. If you were abused or had your rights violated at Homeward Bound, please contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to others. For staff background and information, click here.
House of Hope
in California a confirmedly abusive behavior modification program. They openly use the phrasing “behavior modification” which
has been described by Dr. Weiss of the Federal Prison System as a
system of brainwashing people into submission using violence,
torture, and cruelty.
They also claim to help cure ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder), a
“disorder” that is currently being eradicated from all respectable
medical and psychiatric databases because it defines normal teenage
behavior as a mental disease. In 1992, House of Hope lost a lawsuit against the San Diego
Department of Social Services after the findings of abuse as alleged
by Social Worker Smith were deemed to be well founded and thereby
her actions against House of Hope were justified.
(San Diego House of Hope v. San Diego Department of Social
Services) If you were
abused at House of Hope, please
contact us and we will add your online statement here as
a warning to others.
Monterey Teen Challenge
in Watsonville, CA
is highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Pacific
View Retreat
located somewhere
near the borders of California and Mexico is a WWASPS program for
adults. Representative George Miller of California demanded in
investigation into all World Wide Association of Specialty Programs
and Schools after receiving hundreds of complaints from his
constituents about the torture and abuse suffered by them and/or
their children. You may read the correspondence between John Ashcroft and George Miller by
visiting:
http://nospank.net/ashcroft.htm.
As of January 9th, 2004, California Representative George Miller
demanded, and was denied by John Ashcroft, an investigation into
WWASPS. According to Representative Miller of California,
“There is a
laundry list of abuse of children at WWASPS schools: deprivation of
food, deprivation of contact with their peers, physical abuse,
mental abuse, sexual abuse, and parents are paying big money for
services not rendered," Miller added in a Nov. 6 news release.”
If you were abused or had your rights violated at Pacific View
Retreat, please
contact us and we will post your online statement here as
a warning to others.
Phoenix House in CA is highly suspected of being an abusive behavior modification program. Respected teen "help" industry researcher, Maia Szalavitz, likens the treatment at Phoenix House to known abusive programs. If you were abused or had your rights violated by Phoenix House, please contact us and we will post your online statement here as a warning to others. For staff and background information, click here.
Redwood Teen Challenge
in McKinleyville, CA
is highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Southwestern Academy
in California has a program design that raises red flags all over
the place.
They use a punishment and reward merit system similar to that
used by Provo Canyon School. Please compare the student handbook at
http://www.southwesternacademy.edu/handbooks2.htm
with the warning signs list at
http://www.heal-online.org/warn.htm.
We believe based on the handbook descriptions that this program
is abusive and we recommend you do not send your child there!
If you were abused or had your rights violated at Southwestern
Academy, please
contact us and we will post your online statement here as
a warning to others.
Teen Challenge
in Lincoln, (&
cities of Bakersfield, Redding, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego,
San Francisco, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Turlock, Ventura,) CA
is highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy. George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in
2000. The “New Freedom
Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and pharmaceutical lobbyists
working to insure that every child in America is drugged and
virtually enslaved through behavior modification.
Please do not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If
you were abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge,
please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen Challenge Int’l—California
in Oakland, CA is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen Challenge—Los Angeles
in Los Angeles (
South Gate & Hawthorne), CA is highly suspected of being a teen
torture facility. Teen
Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the Drug Free
America Foundation (DFAF). DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000. The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen Challenge New Life
in Sacramento, CA is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens.
Straight, Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald
Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
In George W. Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler
as US ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
COLORADO
Colorado Mountain Camps
(Wilderness Program) in Boulder, CO is suspect because of the
contractual requirement that a parent or anyone acting on behalf of
a parent will not sue Colorado Mountain Camps if their child is
lost, injured, or killed while in the care of Colorado Mountain
Camps.
There is also limited communication between child and family,
postcards only.
Postcards are a great way to avoid breaking federal laws in reading
incoming and outgoing mail. You may call immediate family (parents) once every two weeks.
There is no specification whether or not these calls are
monitored. The links on
the page to Communications with Your Child was not working at the
time this was written, Saturday, February 14th, 2004.
As of May 31st, 2005 the website had moved or been
shut down for this program.
We believe that this program is suspect. If you have more detailed information or were abused in this
program, please
contact us and we will add your experience to this
website. For staff and background
information,
click here.
Emily Griffith Center
(aka Griffith Centers for Children) in Denver, CO is confirmedly
abusive. For detailed
reports of abuse, please
click here. They
claim to treat “pre-delinquent” boys ages 15-19.
That is a word for preventative psychiatric care, which is also
know historically as neurological programming or brainwashing.
In fact, in their literature they refer to the “programming” of
youth. They also call
their doors “escape delay perimeter doors” which leads one to
believe that boys in this program seek to escape.
If this were a loving, nurturing, constructive program we
believe they wouldn’t be focused on boys inability to escape as a
selling point. If you
have more detailed information or were abused in this program please
contact us and we will add your experience to this
website.
Monarch Center for Family Healing
"While some teenagers wake up to find a Monarch staffer
by their bedside, ready to rip them from the life they
know and whisk them to the mountains of Colorado — an
extreme, boot-camp tactic that enforces the seriousness
of what the student is about to go through — Chris went
to Monarch voluntarily, escorted by his parents.
Right away, Harry noticed a few things that worried him. He found it odd that his son was going to be in a coed group camping in the woods. He also wondered if the cheap, plastic fishing-tackle box stuffed to the brim with the different medications of Monarch students was sufficiently secure. But he'd heard that Monarch was such an amazing place, he let those concerns go. Out in the field, though, Chris found his daily routine a far cry from the glitzy, biking/white-water rafting/mountain-climbing Colorado experience that Monarch had advertised. "Basically we'd wake up early, eat breakfast that consisted of powdered milk and cereal, and then we'd hike for miles," Chris remembers. "We'd stop for lunch, then keep hiking for a few more hours, and then we'd camp. We'd sit around the fire and shoot the shit for a little bit at night, but it wasn't therapy; it was just talking. Then the next day we'd do it again. It got to be really, really boring." And worse. Early on, Chris lost the spoon he'd been assigned for his meals, so he had to consume his meager rations with a stick. An informational pamphlet handed out at orientation had informed students that they were to practice a leave-no-trace style of mountaineering, with each camper issued six squares of toilet paper, but Chris didn't even get that. "They made me wipe my ass with rocks and pinecones," he says. "They never had toilet paper. That six squares thing? That was just bullshit. The girls were made to drip dry." Each camper carried a thermos. At streams, they'd fill up — and then counselors would purify each thermos with a few drops from an eye-dropper full of chlorine bleach. Sometimes, Chris says, they would just drop the bleach directly into the stream and then tell the kids to fill up. Chris was soon suffering from severe diarrhea. Monarch typically takes students out into the field for two weeks at a time, then brings them back to Georgetown for a week of family therapy. When the Haneys arrived from Fort Worth, where Harry owns a company that manufactures highway safety equipment, Chris smelled so bad that he had to shower twice before they could take him out for a meal, Harry remembers. At their first family session, Chris complained about conditions at Monarch. But his parents figured it was just normal bitching about "bad kids' camp," and they sent him back into the field. The second time Harry came up for family week, he could see in his son's eyes that something wasn't right. "He said, 'Dad, you have to get me out of here; they just want me for the money,'" Harry remembers." If you were abused or had your rights violated at Monarch, please contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to others. For staff and background information, click here.
Mountain
Homes Youth Ranch
in Dinosaur, CO (business office in Vernal, UT) is suspected of
being an abusive behavior modification program.
We base this suspicion on the fact that the use a phase system
similar to that in the WWASPS programs.
We were unable to download the “in-depth MHYR program packet”
and were unable to confirm our suspicions due to the lack of
information available. If you were abused at Mountain Homes Youth Ranch, please
contact us so we may post your experience here as a
warning to others.
Teen
Challenge of Colorado
in Olathe, CO is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen Challenge—Rocky Mountains
in Crestone, CO is highly suspected of being a teen torture
facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF). DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000. The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
CONNECTICUT
Devereux Glenholme
in CT is a
confirmedly abusive behavior modification program.
According to one woman’s experience: “from there it was on to
Devereux Glenholme, a correctional school/residential/hell. a high
priced jail that was dressed up to look like a well to do boarding
school. nearly two years of that place has scarred me like nothing
else could ever. they abused their rights as caregivers by tapping
phone conversations between children and their parents, stealing
funds, opening mail, using abusive techniques for restrainment,
using funds for campus beautification, not the well being of the
kids, and lying to the board of health. creativity and
self-expression was smothered out as soon as possible there. if it
weren’t for the friends I made there I would try to forget this part
of my life.”
This was taken from
http://allthesescarsaremine.50megs.com/moi/.
To view other survivor statements regarding Deveraux Glenholme,
please
click here. If you were abused at Deveraux
Glenholme, please
contact us and we will post your online statement here as
a warning to others.
Teen
Challenge
in New Haven, CT is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
DELAWARE
Cedars Academy--An Aspen Education Group program. Aspen Education Group owns multiple facilities many of which have been reported to HEAL as abusive. Here is a survivor website: http://groups.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=groups.groupProfile&groupID=103736124&Mytoken=5F6C46B9-0A79-42A5-BBBD5ED96C1ACD2539578403 If you were abused or had your rights violated at Cedars Academy, please contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to others. For staff and background info, click here.
District of Columbia (wash. D.c.)
Teen
Challenge—DC
in Washington D.C.
is highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
FLORIDA
Camp
Tracey Children’s Home—operated by Harvest Baptist Church north of Glen Saint Mary, FL is
confirmedly abusive. As
early as 1987 abuse was documented at this program.
A grand jury issued a report on abuse and negligence
complaining that thee camp did not keep records of injuries or
abuse, did not report suspected abuse to the state, had no staff
trained in health or nutrition, was not inspected for compliance
with health, building and fire codes; had no certified teachers,
scheduled a grossly substandard amount of time for instruction, had
a convicted felon on staff, censored students’ mail, severely
limited contact of students with their parents, used corporal
punishment frequently, restrained students with ropes and handcuffs,
and forced them into slavery (uncompensated work for private
citizens under duress of physical/mental punishment).
We recommend parents do not send their child to this program.
If you were abused or had your rights violated at Camp Tracey,
please
contact us and
we will post your experience here as a warning to others.
Detailed report provided by
Children’s Healthcare Is a Legal Duty, Inc.
Nov. 4th, 2004 newsletter.
E-Kel-Etu--Located in Silver Springs, FL. This is an Eckerd Youth Alternatives program. Eckerd is confirmedly abusive. See: http://www.isaccorp.org/eckerd/michael-wiltsie.06.29.00.html For staff and background info, click here. If you were abused or had your rights violated by E-Kel-Etu, please contact us and we will post your statement here as a warning to others.
E-Ma-Chamee--Located
in Milton, FL. This is an Eckerd Youth Alternatives
program. Eckerd is confirmedly abusive. See:
http://www.isaccorp.org/eckerd/michael-wiltsie.06.29.00.html
For staff and background info,
click here.
If you were abused or had your rights violated by E-Ma-Chamee, please
contact us
and we will post your statement here as a warning to others.
E-Nini-Hassee--Located
in Floral City, FL. This is an Eckerd Youth Alternatives
program. Eckerd is confirmedly abusive. See:
http://www.isaccorp.org/eckerd/michael-wiltsie.06.29.00.html
For staff and background info,
click here.
If you were abused or had your rights violated by E-Nini-Hassee, please
contact us
and we will post your statement here as a warning to others.
Eckerd Academy--Located in Brooksville, FL This is an Eckerd Youth Alternatives program. Eckerd is confirmedly abusive. See: http://www.isaccorp.org/eckerd/michael-wiltsie.06.29.00.html If you were abused or had your rights violated by Eckerd Academy, please contact us and we will post your statement here as a warning to others. For staff and background info, click here.
Growing Together in Palm Beach, FL is confirmedly abusive. One family member reports, "My sibling was abused at Growing Together... It uses the Straight "treatment" model." If you were abused or had your rights violated at Growing Together, please contact us and we will post your experience here as a warning to others. For staff and background information, click here.
New
Beginnings Rebekah Home
(aka New Beginnings Girls Academy or
Marvelous Grace Girls Academy)—in Pace, FL is
confirmedly abusive.
The former owners, Mr. & Mrs. Cameron, have opened and closed their
lockdown residential facilities in TX, MO, and MS before bringing
them to FL in 2001.
Texas has permanently banned Mrs. Cameron from working with children
or being present at a juvenile facility.
A local TV station reported in Dec. 2004 that FL state officials had
investigated two allegations of abuse at the school, one for
requiring “extreme physical exertion” of a student and an accusation
that Mrs. Cameron hit a girl with a curtain rod.
Soon afterwards the school changed its name to New Beginnings
Girls Academy and the Camerons’ names were removed from its
literature. Like the
Camerons, however, the new director, Bill McNamara, strongly
emphasizes the girls’ sinfulness and prohibits contact with their
siblings, according to the sister of one student.
Detailed report provided by
Children’s Healthcare Is a Legal Duty, Inc.
Nov. 4th, 2004 newsletter.
If you were abused or had your rights violated at New
Beginnings, please
contact us and
we will post your experience here as a warning to others. To
view survivor statements regarding the Cameron's and these programs
please click here.
Our Father’s House in Milton, FL
owned and operated by former Ku Klux Klansman John Burt is
confirmedly abusive. In
2004, Burt was convicted of sexually molesting a 15-year old girl.
He is presently out on bond pending his appeal.
Our Father’s House remains operational.
Please do not subject your child to Our Father’s House.
Detailed report provided by Children’s Healthcare Is a Legal Duty, Inc.
Nov. 4th, 2004 newsletter.
If you were abused or had your rights violated at Our Father’s
House, please
contact us and
we will post your experience here as a warning to others.
Safe Harbor Boys Home in Jacksonville, FL is suspected of being an abusive behavior modification facility. They use a level system similar to that in the WWASPS programs and require parents to enroll their children for at least one year. They also state on their website (as of 9/29/04) that if parents have second thoughts (why would they if it was a safe/healthy environment for their child?) that they shouldn’t have placed the child with Safe Harbor to begin with. Why does Safe Harbor need to control the parents as well as the children? In the least, their website and policies give us at HEAL pause and we recommend you do not send your child to this facility. If you were abused or had your rights violated at Safe Harbor Boys Home, please contact us and we will post your experience here as a warning to others. For staff background and information, click here.
Starting Place, The in Hollywood, FL is confirmedly abusive. Complaints of fraud and sexual abuse filed. See article at: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/columnists/sfl-flbmayocol0612xsbjun12,0,5814657.column If you were abused or had your rights violated by The Starting Place, please contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to others. For staff and background information, click here.
The Tampa Marine Institute in St.
Petersburg, FL is suspected of being an abusive behavior
modification facility. Tampa Marine Institute and all of it's
affiliated programs are very vaguely described in their literature
or on their website. They claim that "what they do works", but
do not explain exactly what they do. They hint at practices
that deny persons in their program life, liberty, and property
without due process of law and are located in the founding city of
Straight, Inc. and other notoriously unregulated and abusive
facilities. Since Florida does not regulate this industry we
recommend you do not send your child to any program in Florida
including this one. If you were abused or had your rights
violated by Tampa Marine Institute or any of its affiliated
programs, please contact us
so we can post your statement here as a warning to others.
Teen
Challenge—FL, Inc.
in Arcadia, FL is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen Challenge in Bonifary, FL is
confirmedly abusive. If you were abused at Teen Challenge in
Bonifay, please
contact us
and we will post your story here as a warning to others.
Teen Challenge Int’l—Florida
in Orlando, (and
cities of Sanford, Fort Myers, Pensacola, Tarpon Springs, Davie,
Tampa) FL is highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen Challenge Lakeland Girls
in Lakeland, FL is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen Challenge Ministries
in Jacksonville, FL
is highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen Challenge of Florida
in Vero Beach, FL is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen Challenge Women’s Center
in Ft.Myers, FL is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen
Transformation Ministries
in Oveido, FL is
confirmedly abusive. In
2003, a 13-year old boy suffered a broken shoulder and fire ant
bites there. The
Seminole County sheriff reported that he complained of the shoulder
injury, but was not given medical attention.
The boy was forced to pull down his pants and sit on a fire ant
mound at the group home, the sheriff said.
The sheriff’s office returned all the boys in the program to
their parents while the abuse allegations were investigated, but,
the school had five boys enrolled again the next year.
The state does not have the authority to close the school
down. Detailed
report provided by
Children’s Healthcare Is a Legal Duty, Inc. Nov. 4th,
2004 newsletter. If you
were abused at Teen Transformation Ministries, please
contact us and we will post your experience here as a
warning to others.
Victory Christian Academy
(aka
Lighthouse of Northwest Florida) in Jay, FL is confirmedly
abusive. It is the
sister program of Genesis by the Sea, a program recently closed down
in Mexico for gross human rights violations of the children in their
care. To read survivor
accounts of life at Victory Christian Academy,
click here. Michele
Ulriksen has written an expose' on Victory Christian Academy,
see:
www.ReformAtVictory.com
If you were abused or had your rights violated at Victory Christian
Academy, please
contact us and we will post your experience here as a warning to
others.
Victory Forge Military Academy in Port St. Lucie, FL is confirmedly abusive. See the news article at: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/may/02/abuse-allegations-leave-victory-forge-military/?feedback=1#comments If you were abused or had your rights violated at Victory Forge Military Academy, please contact us and we will post your experience here as a warning to others. For staff and background information, click here.
West Florida Teen Challenge Boys’ Ranch—in Bonifay, Florida is a confirmedly abusive teen program.
See the
youtube of a child pleading for help.
The contract parents must sign with Teen Challenge does not
indicate that the school meets standards that might be roughly
equivalent to state requirements.
The contract states that the Florida Association of Christian
Child-Caring Agencies’ (FACCCA) “intent” is to “insure the physical
and spiritual health, safety, and well being” of the children and
therefore that thee boy’s ranch must meet FACCCA’s “minimum
standards,” but the only one described in the contract is allowing
access to public officials who inspect for fire, health, safety, and
sanitation codes.
Parents have to agree to hold the ranch and its employees harmless
from “any and all liability” for injury to the child “even injury
resulting in death.”
Parents must agree “that God desires that they resolve their dispute
with one another within the church and that they be reconciled in
their relationships in accordance with the principles stated in I
Corinthians 6:1-8, Matthew 5:23-24, and Matthew 18:15-20.”
If they cannot resolve their disagreement privately within the
church, parents must accept resolution through “biblically based
mediation” by rules of the Association of Christian Conciliation
Services. There is no
refund of tuition or deposits if the boy leaves the ranch before 15
months even if the ranch has expelled him.
Several former students say that staff, “use physical
punishment, ridicule intimidate and/or verbally abuse children; use
chemical restraints; employ cruel or humiliating treatment or other
emotionally abusive behavior; assign excessive exercise or work
duties, deny food, clothing, shelter, medical car, and/or prescribed
therapeutic activities, or contacts with family, counselors, or
legal representatives as a form of punishment.” Please do not send your child to any Teen Challenge program.
Detailed report provided by
Children’s Healthcare Is a Legal Duty, Inc. Nov. 4th,
2004 newsletter. To
read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
If you were abused or had your rights violated by any Teen Challenge
program, please
contact us and we will post your experience here as a
warning to others. To visit a survivor site for
Teen Challenge survivors,
click here.
GEORGIA
Appalachian Wilderness Camp
operated in the North Georgia Mountains, GA is confirmedly abusive.
On April 20th, 2005 Appalachian Wilderness Camp
staff restrained Travis Parker, an asthmatic, denied him proper
medical care (refused to give his inhaler), and as a result he died.
This program is no place for children.
For more on this story visit:
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/auto/epaper/editions/today/news_24c776ec0553126810c1.html
The staff are poorly trained and out of control.
No child should die or be tortured in the name of treatment.
If you were abused at Appalachian Wilderness Camp, please
contact us
and we’ll add your online testimony to this website.
Broken Shackle Ranch is located in
Davisboro, GA. They are
a confirmedly abusive behavior modification program. In 2003, they were ordered to pay over $1 million in a
wrongful death suit.
They were found liable for Bryan Jones’ death.
Jones was fifteen when he was electrocuted to death while in
the care of Broken Shackle Ranch.
(Case
No. A03A1064). See the
lawsuit,
Lawsuit Against Broken Shackle
Ranch (in Georgia)
Carolina Springs Academy
is located somewhere near the borders of Georgia and South Carolina.
Based on the less than open nature of their website and the
fact that their contact information is solely a phone number without
public disclosure of even the city of their location we believe that
Carolina Springs Academy is suspect. What leads us to further believe that Carolina Springs
Academy is suspect is their descriptions of their program. They use cognitive-behavioral restructuring (aka trauma-based
mind control) as well as a merit system not unlike that used by
WWASPS and Provo Canyon School.
We believe it is in the best interest of you and your child that you
do not send your child to Carolina Springs Academy.
If you attended Carolina Springs Academy and were abused while
in their care, please
contact us and we’ll add your online testimony to this
website.
Coastal Harbor Treatment Center--Located in Savannah, GA. Is owned and operated by Universal Health Services and trades staff on occasion with confirmedly abusive Provo Canyon School (also owned by Universal Health Services). We suspect Coastal Harbor is abusive due to its close affiliation with confirmedly abusive Provo Canyon School/UHS. If you were abused or had your rights violated by Coastal Harbor, contact us and we will post your statement here as a warning to others. For staff and background info, click here. This program takes children as young as 4 years old.
Eckerd Academy--Located in Suches, GA This is an Eckerd Youth Alternatives program. Eckerd is confirmedly abusive. See: http://www.isaccorp.org/eckerd/michael-wiltsie.06.29.00.html If you were abused or had your rights violated by Eckerd Academy, please contact us and we will post your statement here as a warning to others. For staff and background info, click here.
Hidden Lake Academy (a.k.a. Ridge Creek
School, Ridge Creek Wilderness)
is located in Dahlonega, GA.
Hidden Lake Academy is a confirmedly abusive program.
According to reports to our site they are guilty of numerous
offences including: violation of constitutional rights, medical
malpractice, and more.
If you would like to read more on the evidence against Hidden lake
Academy, click
here. If you'd like to
read about or join the current class action lawsuit against Hidden
Lake Academy,
click here. If you attended Hidden Lake Academy and
were abused while in their care, please
contact us and we’ll add your online testimony to this
website.
Shepherd's Hill Farm--Located in Martin, GA.
Teen
Challenge—Athens
located in Athens,
GA is highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen Challenge—Atlanta
located in Atlanta,
GA is highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen Challenge—Columbus
in Columbus, GA is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen Challenge—Macon
in Macon, GA is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification.
Please do not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If
you were abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge,
please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
Teen Challenge of Middle Georgia
in Dublin, GA is
highly suspected of being a teen torture facility.
Teen Challenge is the only group of programs endorsed by the
Drug Free America Foundation (DFAF).
DFAF was founded by Mel Sembler, former owner and director of
Straight, Inc. a confirmedly torturous group of institutions for
teens. Straight,
Inc. was endorsed by former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George
H.W. Bush. In George W.
Bush’s first term (2000-2004) he appointed Mel Sembler as US
ambassador to Italy.
George W. Bush instituted the “New Freedom Commission” in 2000.
The “New Freedom Commission” is a group of psychiatrists and
pharmaceutical lobbyists working to insure that every child in
America is drugged and virtually enslaved through behavior
modification. Please do
not sent your child to any Teen Challenge program. If you were
abused or had your rights violated by Teen Challenge, please
contact us and we will post your story here as a warning to
others.
To view confirmed statements regarding abuse at other Teen
Challenge programs, click here. To visit a survivor site for Teen Challenge survivors,
click here. To read about Straight, Inc. and the Semblers,
please click here.
HAWAII
(coming soon)
IDAHO
Ascent Wilderness Intervention: (a.k.a. Ascent, Inc.--RE-OPENED
UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP) in Idaho was (when owned by CEDU) a confirmedly
abusive behavior modification program.
It is now owned by Universal Health Services (a German
mega-corporation). Universal Health Services (UHS) also owns
many other programs including the notoriously abusive Provo Canyon
School (see:
www.heal-online.org/provocases.htm,
www.heal-online.org/sign.htm, &
www.beyondbusiness.net/provotruth.htm, ) According to a
CEDU program survivor, “I
attended Ascent and CEDU in CA. If you love your child STAY AWAY
FROM THIS SCHOOL. I can tell you stories that will make you sick. I
have also heard alot of horror stories from students who attended
some of the other schools on this site. Please - do your research
before sending your child into the care of strangers.
If you want more information please contact me at
ArtemBiz@yahoo.com.”
If you would like to read
about other survivor stories that have firsthand experience of the
abuses at Ascent, please
click here.
If you were abused or had your rights violated at Ascent, please
contact us and we will post your online statement here as
a warning to others.
Boulder Creek Academy:
(RE-OPENED
UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP)
in
Bonners Ferry, ID was (when owned by CEDU) a confirmedly abusive behavior
modification program.
It is now owned by Universal Health Services (a German
mega-corporation). Universal Health Services (UHS) also owns
many other programs including the notoriously abusive Provo Canyon
School (see:
www.heal-online.org/provocases.htm,
www.heal-online.org/sign.htm,
www.beyondbusiness.net/provotruth.htm, &
www.heal-online.org/provocanyon.htm)
According to a CEDU program survivor, “I attended Ascent and CEDU in CA. If you love
your child STAY AWAY FROM THIS SCHOOL. I can tell you stories that
will make you sick. I have also heard alot of horror stories from
students who attended some of the other schools on this site. Please
- do your research before sending your child into the care of
strangers. If you want more information please contact me at
ArtemBiz@yahoo.com.”
Don’t send your child to a CEDU program!
If you were abused at Boulder Creek Academy, please
contact us and we will post your online statement here as
a warning to others.
Please visit
www.heal-online.org/cedu.htm
for more information on the abuse at CEDU facilities.
Clear View in Sandpoint, ID is suspected of being an abusive
behavior modification program.
What leads us to believe it is suspect is the fact that they
encourage limited communication between patient and their family and
only allow family visits every four months and under the supervision
of Clear View therapists.
There are big red flags here.
Children should be allowed open phone privileges to parents at all
times and private communications between the child and their parents
at all times. Families
should be encouraged to be an integral part of their child’s therapy
from the on-set not four months into treatment.
Due to all of these reasons we believe Clear View is clearly
suspect and best to be avoided. If you were abused while in the care of Clear View, please
contact us and we will add your personal statement to our
website.
Elk Mountain Academy in Clark Fork, ID
is confirmedly abusive. "The
counselor arrested on sexual battery charges at a North Idaho
private school for troubled teenage boys has admitted to authorities
he had been a long-time sex addict, including the more than three
decades he served as a Catholic priest. Louis Wayne
Ladenburger, 70, was arrested Wednesday on three charges of sexual
battery with a minor after a three-week investigation by the Bonner
County Sheriff’s Special Victims Unit. Ladenburger worked at
the Elk Mountain Academy near Clark Fork for only a few months as a
therapist before the first alleged incident involving one of the
students. The investigation started three weeks ago after a
17-year-old student told his parents Ladenburger had touched him."
Taken from KXLY.com on May 30th, 2007. Please do not send your
child to Elk Mountain Academy. If you were abused or had your
rights violated while in the care of Elk Mountain Academy, please
contact us and we will add your personal statement to our
website. Also see:
http://www.ruralnorthwest.com/artman/publish/article_7410.shtml
Here's a brief sampling of the before linked article: "A therapist
working at Elk Mountain Academy for seven months was arrested May 30
by the Bonner County Sheriff's Office and charged with two counts of
sexual battery of a minor. Louis W. Ladenburger was also
charged with a third count of sexual battery of another minor. Both
are students at the Clark Fork therapeutic high school for at-risk
teenage boys. Landenberg remains Bonner County Jail on
$100,000 bail. Carl Olding, founder and director of the
academy that began in 1994, said he received a call from a parent at
6 a.m. on May 5 claiming their son had been inappropriately touched
by Ladenburger. "My wife notified Child Protective Services at
their 24-hour hotline while I was in route to Sandpoint, where I met
with the parents and their son in their hotel room two hours later,"
he said. After he arrived, Olding interviewed the student with
his parents present. "My sense was the student was telling me
the truth," he said. "He told me he thought the therapist would tell
me the truth. I then interviewed Mr. Ladenburger, who admitted the
entire story that the student shared was in fact true." Olding
said he then stepped outside and called the sheriff's office around
9:30 a.m., made the report and offered to testify that Ladenburger
had admitted the alleged crime. Olding's wife also reported the
incident to the Department of Health and Welfare at approximately 11
a.m." For staff and background information,
click here.
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